LAWRENCE — Notre Dame High continued its 35-year win streak over Hightstown last night, but none of those previous wins were ever this close.

Using a 2-yard touchdown run by Nico Sferra with 1:49 to play, the Irish rallied for a 19-16 win over the Rams at Msgr. Walter Nolan Field.

Pete Brescia, who was a sophomore quarterback at ND when Hightstown last won here (27-8) in 1977, saw his Rams nearly pull out this win with 2:04 to play in the third when Mark Ozoroski caught a Dustin Kollman pass to complete a 65-yard scoring play.

This tight defensive classic saw the Rams put a hurting on Irish quarterback Rob Bacovin, sacking him six times in the first half — three by Jude Brenya.

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The game was delayed by lightning for 30 minutes with 30 seconds left in the first half after Erik Headley scored on a 15-yard run to give Hightstown a 10-6 lead for intermission.

After the lightning delay, Notre Dame started the second half by recovering the kickoff at the 23 and scoring in just four plays on a 3-yard run by Lorenzo Bryant.

“The offensive line came together,” said ND coach Chappy Moore, who had two sophs start in the trenches for the first time with Zach Tharp the only senior

“They are starting to get the feel, and on that last drive did very well.”

After having been denied a go-ahead TD when it couldn’t score from inside the six and had Lorenzo Bryant pushed back on a leap from the one with 4:36 left, ND kept the Rams pinned deep.

They got the ball back at 3:51 with Sferra running for 16, four, nine, four and then two off the left side for the touchddown that got the Irish to 3-0.

“I’m glad they had the faith in me, and the offensive line came up really big. This is a testament to our hard work,” said Sferra, who finished 17-for-95 rushing. “I was a team effort all around. They (Hightstown) really wanted this game big time and they had us worried.”

Kollman got hot in the second quarter when he completed 6-of-12 throws for 76 yards to get the Rams the lead. But he was 3-for-14 in the second half for 81 yards and an interception.

Kicker Sheamus Larkin, who booted the extra point after Sferra’s TD, prevented a Rams touchdown on the ensuing kickoff when he tackled Andrew Daniels at the 44. Hightstown could not get another first down as it’s best chance to end its winless run against the Irish just missed.

“We’ve been in three tough games, and the young kids are really starting to mature. That’s a tribute to these kids,” said Moore.